Carrier-attached expansible container holder

ABSTRACT

The ends of a pair of looped elongated flexible members, such as straps or cords, preferably elastic, are secured to an attachment support such as the portion of an article carrier, in spaced parallel relationship. Each such member is formed into a pair of loops interconnected by a slidable strap connector or interlinked cord portions in such a manner that each of the elongated flexible members can be alternatively formed into either a single double-ply loop with the strap connector or interlinked cord portions remote from the support-attached ends, or into a pair of adjacent single-ply loops with the connector or interlinked cord portions disposed adjacent the ends secured to the support. The attachment support may conveniently be the wall of a receptacle, such as a tennis racket cover or press, a duffel bag, a golf bag, a handbag, or the like.

United States Patent 1 1 Harvey 1 June 24, 1975 1 1 CARRIER-ATTACHED EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER HOLDER [21] Appl. No.: 510,411

[52] US. Cl. 248/313; 24/81 CC; 24/17 B; 24/256; 150/52 G; 190/52; 224/5 D; 248/499 I51] lnt. C1 A47k H08 [58] Field of Search 24/30 A, 17 R, 17 A, 16 R. 24/81 CC, 129 D, 256, 257 R; 190/59-61,

224/58,5 R,5 A,5 B,5 D,26 R,26 8,28 A; 21l/2,7l,74,89;248/3093l6,23l,74 B,

248/74 PB,499, 505: 294/312; 150/34, 52 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 140,548 7/1873 Scott 190/52 941,659 11/1909 Shea 248/74 PB 1,169,044 l/l9l6 Lippold 24/17 R 1,442,531 1/1923 Mather ct a1. 4/129 D 2,147,963 2/1939 Casciotti 24/256 2,837,217 6/1958 Norris 211/74 3,048,906 8/1962 Patterson 48/74 PB D203 10l 12/1965 Holder v v 190/52 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1,052,641 1/1954 Francc. ..248/499 354.748 10/1905 France 150/34 Primary E.\'aminerR0y D. Frazier Assistant E.mminerLawrence J. Staab [57] ABSTRACT The ends of a pair of looped elongated flexible members, such as straps or cords, preferably elastic, are secured to an attachment support such as the portion of an article carrier, in spaced parallel relationship. Each such member is formed into a pair of loops interconnected by a slidable strap connector or interlinked cord portions in such a manner that each of the elongated flexible members can be alternatively formed into either a single double-ply loop with the strap connector or interlinked cord portions remote from the support-attached ends, or into a pair of adjacent single-ply loops with the connector or interlinked cord portions disposed adjacent the ends secured to the support. The attachment support may conveniently be the wall of a receptacle, such as a tennis racket cover or press, a duffel bag, a golf bag, a handbag, or the like.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CARRIER-ATTACHED EXPANSIBLE CONTAINER HOLDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention particularly resides in a container gripper consisting of a single elongated flexible member, such as a strap, or cord, formed into two loops by a slidable strap connector or interlinking cord portions which is movable toward and away from the supportsecured flexible member ends to form either a single double-ply loop adapted to hold a single container or a pair of adjacent single-ply loops adapted to hold a pair of containers side-by-side. Two such flexible container grippers are secured to the attachment wall in spaced parallel relationship to form a container holder.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container holder of the invention as attached to a tennis racket cover so as to form double-ply single loops for holding a single container;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the elongated flcxible members rearranged into two pairs of single-ply loops so as to hold two containers;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, partly in end elevation, taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing the flexible member arranged as a double-ply single container gripper;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, partly in end elevation, taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2, showing the flexible member rearranged as a single-ply double container gripper;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the invention in both of its arrangements, as attached to the side wall of a handbag; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification wherein the elongated flexible members are interlinked cords with their ends secured to a stem which, in turn, is detachably secured to a bracket permanently attached to the article carrier.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive show an article carrier 10, such as the cover for a tennis racket l2, equipped with an expansible container holder, generally designated 14, secured to a supporting portion 16, according to one form of the invention. The article carrier 10 is conventional and its details are beyond the scope of the present invention. The expansible container holder 14 consists of duplicate container grippers 18 disposed in spaced parallel relationship and of similar construction to one another, hence a single description of one holder 18 is deemed sufficient.

Each of the container grippers 18 is formed from a single length of an elongated flexible member 20 (FIG. 3) having its mid-portion 22 and its opposite ends 24 secured as by stitching, rivets, or the like, 26 to the supporting portion 16. The inner and outer sections 28 and 30 formed on opposite sides of the ends 24 are joined and reversely bent at 32 where they pass through connectors 34, such as rings, or, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, slotted discs wherein the junctions 32 pass through parallel slots 36 in plates or discs 38.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the expansible container holder 14 is to be used for holding a single A, such as a conventional tennis ball can or vacuum bottle. To receive such a single container A. the container grippers 18 of the holder 14 are arranged in the single-loop double-ply positions shown in FIG. 3, wherein the connector 34 and the sections 28 and 30 are slid relatively to one another so that the position of the connector 34 is disposed opposite to and remote from the secured ends 24 and mid-portion 22 of the flexible member 20. This procedure is repeated for each of the grippers 18. The single container A is then pushed through the single central opening 40 of each gripper 18. If, as is preferable, the elongated flexible members 20 are made of elastic material, preferably elastic webbing straps, they close tightly around the single container A and hold it against dislodgement.

To convert the expansible container holder carrier 14 from the single container holder of FIGS. 1 and 3 to the double container holder of FIGS. 2 and 4, the operator first removes the single container A, which is held by the double-ply sections 28 and 30 of the grippers 18. He then slides the' connector 34 downward along the inner sections 28 of each gripper 18 until it comes to rest adjacent the mid-portion 22 and the secured ends 24 thereof (FIG. 4), thereby converting each of the double-ply sections 28 and 30 (FIG. 3) into a pair of single-ply loops 42 (FIG. 4) having a pair of openings 44 therein disposed side-by-side. The two containers A and B can then be pushed through the two openings 44 of the two loops 42 of the two grippers 18 as in the insertion of the single container A described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3.

The containers A and B are adaptable for receiving not only tennis balls, but also any other equipment which the user may desire to carry with him, such as sun glasses, handkerchiefs, or the like, or a vacuum bottle may be substituted for such a container. When the holder 14 is attached to a golf bag, which ordinarily has a pocket for golf balls, the containers A and B may be used to contain food or beverages. When the holder 14 is attached to a duffel bag or, as in FIG. 5, to the side wall 46 of a handbag or flight bag 48, where it may also be used forthe same purpose as with the golf bag. The holder 14 may also be used for the same purposes and attached to a bookbag of-aschool child or the briefcase of an office worker or to hand luggage of travelers.

The modified expansible container holder, generally designated 50, shown in FIG. 6 consists of a stem 52 formed at its upper end with a loop 54 within which are secured, in a manner similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, the opposite ends and mid-portion (not shown) of an elongated flexible member 56 in the form of an elongated flexible cord or cable, preferably an elastic cable. The portions 58 and 60 of the cable 56 are interlinked by being looped one through the other, as at 62, thereby forming a gripper 64 which dispenses with the connector 34 of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive. The stem 52 has a lower end or nose portion 66 which is adapted to be inserted in the slot 68 formed in a shallow U-shaped bracket 70 having its central wall 72 spaced outwardly away from its opposite ends 74 by connecting portions 76. The bracket 70 is secured to the wall 78 of the article carrier 80 in any suitable manner, such as by rivets 82.

The use of the modified expansible container holder 50 is similar to that of the expansible container holder 14 described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive and is believed to require no further explanation other than to state that the lower end portion 66 of the stem 52 is insertable in and removable from the bracket 70 by pushing it downward, as shown by the arrow in FIG.

3 6, or by pulling it upward so as to detach it, as shown in FIG. 6.

From the foregoing description and the drawing illustrations, it will be evident that each of the loops 42 is completely independent of the other loop,'so that one of the containers A or B is removable without loosening or otherwise distributing the grip of the other loop upon its respective container. Furthermore, from FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the close-together mounting of the ends 24 and midportion 22 (FIG. 3) concentrates the pull of the loop or loops in substantially a single small spot or area, with the result that a very flexible wall 16 can be employed, thus rendering the invention applicable to very flexible fabric bags or other carriers. For this reason, the invention has been successfully applied to a very flexible fabric bag with a drawstring opening, particularly a flexible plastic bag. Finally, it will be evident that when the invention is used to hold a single container A or B, as in FIG. 3, there are no dangling straps or cords present.

I claim: H g 1. An expansible container holder adapted to be attached to an article carrier, said holder comprising a container gripper adapted to flexibly embrace the container, said gripper including an elongated flexible member having opposite ends and a midportion secured adjacent one another in a substantially common attachment portion adapted to be secured to a portion of the article carrier,

said flexible member including a pair of loops thereof extending away from said attachment portion, and coupling means interconnecting said loops in slidable engagement therewith and dividing said loops into outer and inner sections thereof, said coupling means being movable into a first position remote from said attachment portion disposing said outer and inner loop sections adjacent one another and .thereby forming a single double-ply .container'gripping loop, said coupling-mea'ns'being movable into a second position near said attachment portion disposing said outer and inner loop sections remote from one another and thereby forming a pair of single-ply containerareceiving loops disposed side by side.

2. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a plurality of said containergrippers disposed in aligned spaced parallel relationship to one another. v

3. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said flexiblemember is composed of elastic material adapted to stretch into-resilient constricting engagement with the container or containers.

4. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member comprises an elongated flexible band.

5. An expansible. container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a connector having opening means therein, and wherein said loops pass through said opening means.

6. An 1 expansible container holder,-.according ;to claim 5, wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of spaced openings in said connector, ,and wherein said loops'pass through said openings, with only one of said loops passing through any one-of said openings. 1 I

7. An expansible container holder, according to claim 6, wherein said connector has a separator-portion between said openings, and wherein said separator portion holds said loops apart from. one another and prevents sliding frictional engagement therebetween at said connector.

8. An expansible container holder, -according;to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member is a filamentary member, wherein said loops. are interlinked, and wherein said coupling means comprises the interlinked portions of said loops.

9. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes a supporting element, wherein said attachment portion is secured to said supporting element, and wherein a bracket element detachably receives said supporting element; said bracket element being adapted to be secured to a portion of the article carrier. 

1. An expansible container holder adapted to be attached to an article carrier, said holder comprising a container gripper adapted to flexibly embrace the container, said gripper including an elongated flexible member having opposite ends and a midportion secured adjacent one another in a substantially common attachment portion adapted to be secured to a portion of the article carrier, said flexible member including a pair of loops thereof extending away from said attachment portion, and coupling means interconnecting said loops in slidable engagement therewith and dividing said loops into outer and inner sections thereof, said coupling means being movable into a first position remote from said attachment portion disposing said outer and inner loop sections adjacent one another and thereby forming a single double-ply container-gripping loop, said coupling means being movable into a second position near said attachment portion disposing said outer and inner loop sections remote from one another and thereby forming a pair of single-ply container-receiving loops disposed side by side.
 2. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a plurality of said container grippers disposed in aligned spaced parallel relationship to one another.
 3. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member is composed of elastic material adapted to stretch into resilient constricting engagement with the container or containers.
 4. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member comprises an elongated flexible band.
 5. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a connector having opening means therein, and wherein said loops pass through said opening means.
 6. An expansible container holder, according to claim 5, wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of spaced openings in said connector, and wherein said loops pass through said openings, with only one of said loops passing through any one of said openings.
 7. An expansible container holder, according to claim 6, wherein said connector has a separator portion between said openings, and wherein said separator portion holds said loops apart from one another and prevents sliding frictional engagement therebetween at saiD connector.
 8. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member is a filamentary member, wherein said loops are interlinked, and wherein said coupling means comprises the interlinked portions of said loops.
 9. An expansible container holder, according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes a supporting element, wherein said attachment portion is secured to said supporting element, and wherein a bracket element detachably receives said supporting element, said bracket element being adapted to be secured to a portion of the article carrier. 